Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Write a letter now to the future you...



Recommended Posts

If you're new to this process I recommend writing a letter to yourself now as your journey begins and only to be read when you hit your ultimate goal. I wish I had done it. I can only the imagine what the 488lb me would've said. I can remember the darkest times but to be able to read a letter from 18 months ago would be a great reminder of where I've been and where I do not want to go back to. Not only would it give insight to where you've been it will also help you appreciate what you've done and what you've become along the way...

I do go back and read my old posts here on LBT and some are quite eye opening...

Something to think about....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jim what a tremendous idea, sort of a mini time capsule.

I too go back and read some of my older posts. Sometime I read them when I get discouraged and the scale does not seem to be as friendly.

Probably the most encouragement I get from this forum is looking at the tickers and profiles. Sometimes it is easier to get discouraged and just give up. During one of those times I look at all the wonderful changes that have taken place in the almost six years of this journey.

I am on the right track and as long as I am careful to not totally screw up my journey no one can take it away.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jim what a tremendous idea, sort of a mini time capsule.

I too go back and read some of my older posts. Sometime I read them when I get discouraged and the scale does not seem to be as friendly.

Probably the most encouragement I get from this forum is looking at the tickers and profiles. Sometimes it is easier to get discouraged and just give up. During one of those times I look at all the wonderful changes that have taken place in the almost six years of this journey.

I am on the right track and as long as I am careful to not totally screw up my journey no one can take it away.

How on earth is the scale not being friendly to you? Looks like you're doing great to me!!! You should be extremely proud of your progress!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That is a great idea! I've been making short videos of myself, addressing them to me. Talking about the daily struggle, the ups and downs and I'm hoping to watch them later down the road and not only see what I look like but see ho I felt! I'm going to write that letter now! What a wonderful thing! Thanks! :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

How on earth is the scale not being friendly to you? Looks like you're doing great to me!!! You should be extremely proud of your progress!!!!

I am more than proud I am ecstatic. What you do not now is after 4 1/2 years of my journey I had a total unfill due to acid reflux and my band was to tight and I was starting to cause damage to my esophagus. Lucky for me no damage was done my esophagus and my pouch were OK my band was OK and I was OK. So almost right away I started to gain weight twenty pounds in three months, after a few months I started getting fills again and still losing and gaining weight. In January of this year my weight was up to 250. As some have stated I needed to get recommitted before I gain it all back. I was got down to 240 and could not seem to go below it. In March I had emergency surgery to remove my gallbladder due to acute pancreatitis and my organs were starting to fail. I am OK now but it really started to get me to thinking about taking care of my self.

Though I tried to not live in the past I needed to get back on track with my journey and that involves being active on this forum.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Don't confuse the journey with the destination.

Not sure I understand what you're referring to.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The process of learning healty habits will be difficult but is temporary and to be expected. The destination=a healthy, happy you is the goal and gets easier and is well worth it. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That is a great idea for the newbies Jim1967. When I was banded in 2009, I started a journal and kept it up for almsot two years. I ran across them (I have several books) recently and was amazed at where my head was then compared to where I am today (I think!). I am glad that I have a written timeline to see just how far I have come, yet I know that I am still not finished. Maybe I will take my journaling up again. Thanks for the reminder!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The process of learning healty habits will be difficult but is temporary and to be expected. The destination=a healthy, happy you is the goal and gets easier and is well worth it. :)

Ah OK I understand. I consider it a life long journey with no final destination but in the end I guess it is how one perceives their personal experience. Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks so much for a great idea. I have started a journal and will sit right down and write myself a letter......wondering if you might like to write yourself a new letter, an acknowledgment of how far you've come, how you feel. Thanks again from some one still waiting to begin. Best wishes!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, my name is Diana and I should be getting my lapband sometime in September of this year. I have been reading everyone posts for the last month in order to get familiarized with the ups and downs I will encounter when finally banded. There is so much information here that the doctors can't provide unless they have been banded themselves. I think the idea of writing yourself a letter is awesome. It is a wonderful idea. Also, the journal idea is great. Definitely a must. Best wishes to everyone!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am getting my band in 4 weeks and I am so glad I found this support. I think the letter writing is brilliant. I am going to do that. Thanks for the idea.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×